Bats

Analysis and Comment (6)

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Sydneysider bats, such as this lesser long-eared bat, are susceptible to predation even when they keep on the move. Tracy Morris

Urban ecology: boring as batshit or heaven scent?

By Caragh Threlfall, University of Melbourne

When I started my PhD to gain understanding of factors affecting the plight of bats living in our cities, I had no idea I’d be stuffing a freezer full of faeces one day. Sorry – I’m getting ahead of myself…
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Heavy-handed strategies won’t reduce the risk of bat-borne diseases and will be detrimental to the environment. Flickr/mdavidford

Breaking up bat colonies doesn’t eliminate health risks

By Jon Luly, James Cook University; Gerardo Martin, James Cook University, and Lee Skerratt, James Cook University

The recent tragic death of a young boy from Australian bat lyssavirus (ABL) produced a predictable chorus of calls to disperse flying fox colonies and kill flying foxes, all in the name of public health…
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Catching prey such as mosquitoes would be pretty hard if you couldn’t focus your vision. Nature.com

Pitch perfect: small bats squeak higher, but not due to size

By Lisa Cawthen, University of Tasmania

A study released today in Nature shines some light on why bats produce high frequency calls – and why some squeak far higher than others. Over the last four years I have been researching bats by monitoring…
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Flying-foxes are taking refuge in populated areas, and people are deciding they don’t like them. James Reed

Culling flying-foxes is ineffective, so why suggest slaughter?

By Kylie Williams

Animosity towards the grey-headed flying-fox has intensified as their contact with humans has increased. Last month, the Queensland government announced that it would issue an annual quota of 1280 permits…
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People who get to know flying foxes are less likely to loathe them. michis

Conservation shouldn’t be a popularity contest

By Dominique Thiriet, James Cook University

Even Australia’s most iconic, charismatic species are in danger of extinction. Species such as the cassowary, Tasmanian devil and koala all enjoy significant community support and relatively generous funding…
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Fruit bats carry disease, pollen and a warning about the state of the environment. shellac/Flickr

Culling bats isn’t the way to control Hendra virus

By Jon Luly, James Cook University and Lee Skerratt, James Cook University

This year has had the lot. First came the tempest, then the floods. Fires are on their way as the landscape dries out. Now we have pestilence, in the form of Hendra virus. Calls for bat culls have ensued…

Research Briefs (3)

Hendra virus: high mortality rate in humans

Australian Medical Association

The Hendra virus (HeV) infection has a high mortality rate in humans, killing four of the seven people who have ever contracted…

Fruit bats navigate with internal maps

Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Egyptian fruit bats use an internal, landmark-based map to navigate their local area, a new study has found. The discovery…

Participants (53)